For the new 2023 licensure renewal cycle starting on December 1, 2023, and ending November 30, 2025, all Illinois social workers can expect two amendments to their licensure renewal requirements as required by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR). These requirements affect all licensed Illinois social workers who hold a licensed social worker (LSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) license and are renewing their license for the second or subsequent time.
While the below requirements are accurate at time of printing, they are subject to change by the department. As always, IDFPR remains the final arbiters for all licenses in Illinois. Be sure check their website for any updates. We will also note those changes here and on the NASW-IL Licensure page under "CEU Requirements." NASW-IL members get real-time notices about these changes as announced by IDFPR. To get these alerts which save YOU time and money, join/rejoin NASW today!
UPDATED 07/18/24: Clinical Supervision training requirement added and clarification
around Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias training requirement.
IDFPR 2023–2025 Licensure Renewal Requirements
What follows is a detailed description of the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) requirements for Illinois social workers who are renewing their licensed social worker (LSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) licenses for the second or subsequent time in Illinois (see our FAQ for first-time renewals). These requirements pertain to the 2023–2025 licensure cycle which begins on December 1, 2023, and expires on November 30, 2025. All requirements must be obtained by the November 30, 2025, deadline to maintain your license.
Amended! With removal of the in-person CEU requirement in July 2023, the state now requires that any remote program (e.g., self-study, book-study, or computer/online based course) must include an examination.
All renewing applicants must obtain a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education (CE) relevant to the practice of social work or clinical social work.
Of these 30 CE hours:
NEW! Clinical Supervision (One-time requirement during lifetime of LCSW license): All LCSWs are required to obtain 6 hours on clinical supervision training during the lifetime of their clinical license. This is a one-time requirement meaning once you have fulfilled the hours, you no longer need to repeat the requirement. Depending on when you obtained your LCSW, there are different deadlines for when you must fulfill the requirement.
Ethics: At least 3 hours must include content related to the ethical practice of social work.
Cultural Competency: At least 3 hours must include content related to cultural competence in the practice of social work. Note: Effective January 1, 2024, Public Act 103-0531 requires that all licensed professionals must obtain at least 1 hour of continuing education in cultural competency. Because social workers are already required to obtain 3 CE hours in cultural competency, this new requirement is redundant (i.e., it doesn't increase the 3-hour CE requirement in cultural competency to 4 hours); however, the department may write rules that specify what content the one-hour cultural competency training must cover. If this comes to pass, we will update this page accordingly.
Implicit Bias Awareness: At least 1 hour must include a training on implicit bias awareness that fulfills content-related requirements.
Mandated Reporter Training with Implicit Bias: A mandated reporter training with a section on implicit bias is required for licensure renewal. There is no timed element (e.g., one hour of CEUs) to fulfill this training requirement, nor does it have to be a CEU, but there are content-related requirements.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training: A sexual harassment prevention training is required for licensure renewal. You must complete one CEU hour of sexual harassment prevention training unless you have already taken a sexual harassment prevention training from your employer within the current licensure cycle, at which point there is no time or CEU requirement. All education must fulfill content-related requirements. To find out if the course you took fulfills requirements or are self-employed or unemployed but looking to maintain your license, see the"More About the Specialty CEU Requirements" section on our CEU Requirements page.
Amended! Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias: The department now requires a one-hour (minimum) training on the assessment and diagnosis, effective communication strategies, and management and care planning of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This requirement must be fulfilled by all licensees renewing their social work license for the second time, and subsequently, by all licensees once every three licensure cycles afterwards (i.e., one in every six years). This requirement applies to all health care professionals who provide health care services to, and have direct patient interactions with, adult populations age 26 or older in the practice of their profession. This requirement applies to all who work with populations age 26 or older, no matter whether their clients are actively experiencing Alzheimer's disease or other dementias or not. See the"More About the Specialty CEU Requirements" section on our CEU Requirements page for more about this training requirements.
Have More Questions?
For a complete list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) which clarifies more about CEU eligibility, remote programs, seeking waivers of CE requirements, requesting reprints of CEU certificates for NASW-IL trainings, and getting an event approved to provide CEUs, be sure to check out our complete FAQ on the NASW-IL CEU Requirements page .
Please note that all specific questions concerning licensure and individual licenses or a particular license application needs to be properly directed to IDFPR as they are ultimately the licensing board who approve of licenses for Illinois. The NASW-Illinois Chapter website also has a plethora of information relating to licensure, from supervision requirements, the licensing process, testing procedures, and more. Go to the NASW-IL Licensure page to read more.
>> One of the biggest benefits of NASW membership is consultation access for questions relating to the social work profession. Become a member today! https://www.socialworkers.org/nasw/join